“We asked people to stop going” Ibadan radio station speaks on stampede

The management of Agidigbo FM, the radio station in Oyo that promoted the 2024 Children Fun Fair, has reacted after multiple children reportedly d!ed in a stampede at the funfair.


The management of the station said it had made announcements, asking residents to stop thronging the venue of the children’s funfair in Ibadan. However, people continued coming. 
 

Recall that an unconfirmed number of people, mostly children, d!ed on Wednesday, Dec. 18, after a stampede occurred at the funfair which was held at the Islamic High School in the Bashorun area of the capital city. 

Agidigbo FM sent out an announcement on Facebook on Tuesday, Dec. 27, urging parents to bring their kids. 

They added that the event was courtesy of Naomi Silekunola, ex-wife of Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife. 

However, speaking following the tragic incident at the funfair, Olayinka Abdulwahab, the director of programmes at Agidigbo FM, said in a statement that the broadcasting station was only engaged to promote the event. 
 

The radio station named the organiser as WINGS Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that supports women and girls.  The event was organised to cater to 5,000 attendees. 
 

Abdulwahab said when the station got information that a “mammoth crowd” had gathered at the venue by 5 am, it made announcements asking people to avoid going for the funfair. 

“This is to inform the general public that the management of Agidigbo FM, Ibadan, received the news of the tragedy that heralded the children’s fun fair at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, organized by the WINGS Foundation, with great shock and wholeheartedly commiserates with the families involved,” the statement reads. 

“Amidst the tragedy, the news making the rounds says that Agidigbo FM is the organizer of the children’s funfair, however, the management wishes to state that Agidigbo FM is not the organizer of the event but one of the media outfits used to promote the event. 

“Upon receiving the notice that a mammoth crowd had assembled before 5 am this morning at the venue, Agidigbo FM, the people’s voice, used all media strategies to sensitize the populace with jingles and Public service Announcement, from that time that people should stop going to the venue of the funfair. 

“The organizers of the event also did all they could to ensure that the tragedy was curtailed by deploying security apparatus, medical officials, and other relevant agencies to come to the aid of those affected by this tragic event. 

“This a very sad day for us all, however, we call on the general public to shun the spread of fake news and contact Agidigbo FM, for more information.” 

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo state, had said organisers of the event that led to the stampede have been taken into custody for questioning but did not disclose the identities of the organisers.